Formerly scheduled pep rally has been cancelled

The winter pep rally scheduled for seventh period yesterday, Feb. 10 was cancelled by Principal Phillip Gainous after a fight erupted on Blair Boulevard during 5B lunch.

Hundreds of students crowded around five young men who were arguing and fighting with five other young men, while onlookers from the third floor threw slushies onto the crowd. The Blair administration cancelled the rally because teachers and faculty were afraid that this hostility during the lunchtime fight would continue into the pep rally. "There's going to be a ripple effect when you have a big fight," explained Assistant Principal Linda Wanner.

SGA sponsor Rondai Ravilious reiterated Wanner's concern. "The fight made the pep rally unsafe," she said. "There could be a potential disaster."

After Attendance Secretary Roxanne Fus announced the cancellation of the event, the cheerleaders huddled together, sobbing and consoling each other. "The school spirit [is low] because of the fight," noted cheerleader captain Aynalem Geremew. DJs Flex and Raine of WPGC 95.5 had come to Blair to present an award to the cheerleading squad at the pep rally. Because of the cancellation, however, the cheerleaders, Poms and winter sports teams were not allowed to perform for Blair students and faculty. Wanner and Ravilious negotiated with the cheerleaders so the girls could still speak with WPGC and be broadcasted on the radio this evening, but the squad was upset. "We cheer in this school. This was our time to get support back," said Geremew.

Senior Suzie Adjogah of the Poms was especially dismayed with the administration's decision because she explained that in order to prepare for the winter pep rally, the Poms had to stop practicing for the Montgomery County championship this Saturday to train for the rally.

Junior Emma Aguilar was one of many students to be disappointed by the cancellation. "We never have pep rallies," she commented. "The administration has been cancelling them since freshman year."

Today, SGA President Sebastian Johnson announced that the fight was a continuation of a conflict over the theft of a jacket last year and that the SGA would push for rescheduling the pep rally in March.